RMT MEMBER WINS COMPENSATION FOR FOOD POISONING

RMT helpline 0800 3763706 :: february 2009 :: RMTnews 20 Fatal Accidents Non-Fatal Assaults Accidents Rail Operating Grades 0 [1] 85 [80] 9 [14] Rail Engineering Grades 1 [0] 13 [31] 0 [0] Workshops 0 [0] 0 [1] 0 [0] Road Transport 0 [0] 1 [3] 0 [0] Buses 0 [0] 15 [17] 1 [0] L.U.L. and Metros 0 [0] 15 [16] 4 [3] Shipping 0 [0] 5 [11] 0 [0] RMT Head Office staff 0 [0] 0 [0] 0 [0] Taxi Driver 0 [0] 0 [1] 0 [0] Other [unidentified] 0 0] 45 [33] 3 [1] CLAIMS FOR DAMAGES AT COMMON LAW FOR THE PERIOD JULY 1 TO SEPTEMBER 30 2008 Number of claims settled 83 [77] Total amount recovered £770,249.24 [£568,747.00] [including CICA Claims] The figures in brackets are those for the previous quarter. LEGAL ASSISTANCE GRANTED IN RESPECT OF CHARGES BROUGHT BY THE POLICE FOR THE PERIOD JULY 1 TO SEPTEMBER 30 2008 Road Traffic Act 10 [ 11] Other police charges 4 [ 7 ] An RMT member has received £25,000 in compensation after he became gravely ill following serious food poisoning at a Chinese restaurant. Stephen Yenson, from Clacton on Sea in Essex contracted salmonella after eating chicken curry and egg fried rice at a Chinese restaurant in the town in July 2004. As a result of the infection Stephen was off work for more than a year after he developed reactive arthritis and was bed ridden for three months. The condition has left him physically disabled. Although he has now returned to work at Network Rail his disabilities mean he must undertake an office-based job. Stephen contacted his union RMT after he became ill to pursue a claim for compensation against the Chinese restaurant. The union instructed its lawyers Thompsons Solicitors who were successful in gaining a settlement. The restaurant did not admit liability for exposing Stephen to salmonella. Stephen said that he never imagined he would end up off sick for more than a year after going for a Chinese meal. “I have been left with long term affects from the food poisoning and I am now physically restricted. I didn’t know salmonella could be so damaging to my health. “I am fortunate I have been able to go back to work. If I had been a manual worker like a builder I would have had to give up work altogether,” he said. RMT general secretary Bob Crow said that the case highlighted how trade union legal services can support our members outside the work place. “This free service is not confined to those injuries which are linked the member’s work or employment,” he said. Andrew Wells from Thompsons Solicitors added said that he was pleased to have been able to help Mr Yenson to gain compensation for his illness. “Salmonella is one of the most common types of food poisoning. It can be avoided by those involved in the preparation of food by having good kitchen hygiene and by making sure potentially contaminated foods like chicken and eggs are cooked properly,” he said. SUMMARY OF FATAL AND NON-FATAL ACCIDENTS AND ASSAULTS TO MEMBERS FOR THE PERIOD JULY 1 TO SEPTEMBER 30 2008 RMT MEMBER WINS COMPENSATION FOR FOOD POISONING T he union’s solicitors won compensation of over £15,000 to customer services assistant Janet Wilson who was injured while going about her duties in the employment of Virgin Rail Group. Mrs Wilson was injured as she was serving tea and coffee on a Virgin Pendolino train. As she was passing through the coaches the doors closed suddenly, trapping her right wrist. The train also went over some points at this moment causing the train to jolt. Following a letter of claim, liability was conceded by the employers and medical evidence was commissioned. The claimant sustained a fracture to the right wrist and underwent an operation to unite the fracture Mrs Wilson was off work for six months and suffered reduced earnings as result and she made a good recovery. The union’s solicitors entered into settlement negotiations with the company and the matter settled for £15,250. Janet said that she was happy with the result and ‘really glad’ to have been in the union. MEMBER WINS COMPENSATION FROM VIRGIN RAIL GROUP LEGAL